When Kenya defeated Algeria to win their ninth African Women Volleyball Championship last month, they qualified for the World Cup that will be played in Japan from August 22- September 6.
At the time coach David Lung’aho told Kawowo Sports that he would go with a junior side at the world cup.
As a way of giving the senior side a breather ahead of the September 5-19 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
“At the moment winning gold at the All Africa Games is a priority, we haven’t won it in a long time, we want to send a strong team so that we win gold, it has been along, but also send a junior team to the world to give them exposure,”
Kenya last won the All Africa Games volleyball medal in 1999 at the games that were in South Africa.
They have settled for bronze in Abuja 2003, Algiers 2007, and Maputo 2011
Currently Kenya is in preparing for the final round of FIVB Grand Prix in Canberra, Australia but yesterday boycotted the morning training session after reports emerged the team will be split into two those two assignments.
“Reports reached us that the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has spilt this team into two, meaning that other players will go to the World Cup, while others will feature in the All Africa Games. Really it does not make sense at this stage for such development to occur,” said Brackcides Agala the Kenyan captain who was surrounded by her teammates addressed the team manager Kipkemei Sirima.
Agala also said that it would be unfair for the team to be split at this stage, since the current squad is a winning outfit and the results are there for everyone to see
“Again, we are told that junior players will then be added to these two teams of which we are not sure whether they are training back at home or not. Surely, how can we perform with this type of arrangements .My request to the KVF is to not divide this team and allow the junior team to go the World Cup event.”
The team also demanded that they are paid their allowances for the Algerian and Australian trips.
“We were paid KSh50, 000 (UShs1.8m) by the Federation and additional Ksh25, 000 (UShs0.9m) by the government when we left home. How are we supposed to function with Ksh75, 000 (UShs2.7m), in three countries? We are ladies and we need to meet our personal needs so, something should be done.”
The team managers, Kipkemei Sirima promised to address all the issues but urged the team first focus and finish the job on hand.
“Let’s do what brought us here. Indeed you (Players) are yet to be paid your allowances for the two events and its’ sad. However, we have come this far and we can’t give up now.”
Said the man who also doubles as Kenya Volleyball Federating (KVF) second vice chairman
Kenya opens up the final stage of FIVB Grand prix Group Three with a semifinal tie against host Australia on July 11, Colombia will play Peru in the other semifinal.
The third place playoff and finals will be play on July 12, with the top three countries gaining promotion to Group Two.
Team in Australia: Jane Wacu, Janet Wanja, Brackcides Agala, Ruth Jepnegetich, Triza Atuka, Mercy Moim, Evelyne Makuto,Monica Biama,Noel Murambi, Esther Wangeci, Lydia Maiyo and Elizabeth Wanyama.
